Mundford Bowls Club were left two shots short of a place in the final of the last trophy competition of the Norfolk EBA League season, the Hansells Solicitors Cup.

Mundford were leading in the early stages of a tense semi-final, played at Wymondham Dell. However, eventual trophy winners Hunstanton B hit back to win 59 shots to 57 and deny the Central 2 champions a place in the afternoon’s final.

In a closely-contested final after lunch, Hunstanton again came from behind to beat Bradwell A by 81 shots to 72.

“You could feel the tension coming off the green all day,” said Roger Holden, managing partner of sponsors Hansells. “We witnessed some real cliffhangers which left those of us watching quite breathless.”

Hansells sponsor not only the cup, but all EBA bowls across Norfolk.

“Hansells’ support for bowls at all levels in the county is fantastic,” said Norfolk EBA president Brian Howes. “We would not be able to do a lot of what we do without their backing. It is not only financial backing, either. They always support us with their presence.”

Howes’ sentiments were echoed by Hansells League secretary Tony Dunton.

“The Hansells Cup is a wonderful innovation. It gives teams playing in Divisions Two and Three across the county their own piece of silverware to compete for,” he said. “It is typical of the way Hansells supports the sport at all levels.”

EBA and League officials and the team captains all praised the quality of Wymondham Dell’s green and the two superb buffets the hosts had provided.

Hansells Cup Scores - Semi-final Hunstanton B beat Mundford 59-57. Scores (Hunstanton names first) – M Chitty, E Hurrell, J Lilliweb and S Allcock 10; K Ayms, B Upson, M Gooch and J Chalk 23. P Earnshaw, D Hutchinson, B March and P Hunter 23; L Marsh, G Hollowood, J Hanlon and R Granger 20. I Parke, M Halifax, T Warters (correct) and J Whitfield 26; H Skoulding, T Kent, D Dyms and A Allen 14.

Semi-final Bradwell A beat R G Carters B 64-59. Scores (Bradwell names first) – K Saward, J Everington, T Payne and E Macdonald 25; P Pettit, M Theobald, S Sissons and M Brown 14. P Fiske, K Cooke, J Sargent and R Beardall 19; G Lovejoy, R Pettit, M Woods, and M Reynolds 19. C Butcher, K Hall, D Smith and D Pratt 20; D Harloy, R Smith, D Cole and J Proctor 26.

Final Hunstanton B beat Bradwell A 81-72. Scores (Hunstanton names first) – M Chitty, E Hurrell, J Lilliweb and S Allcock 28; K Saward, J Everington, T Payne and E Macdonald 30. P Earnshaw, D Hutchinson, B March and P Hunter 27; P Fiske, K Cooke, J Sargent and R Beardall 23. I Parke, M Halifax, T Warters and J Whitfield 26; C Butcher, K Hall, D Smith and D Pratt 19.